March Services at Ansley Churches
| 2nd March
Next before Lent |
St John’s | 10.45 a.m. | Holy Communion
|
| 5th March
Ash Wednesday |
St Wilfrid’s,
Arley |
7.30 p.m. | Special Service |
| 7th March
World Day of Prayer |
St John’s | 10.30 a.m. | Cook Islands
Special Service |
| 9th March
Lent 1 |
St Laurence | 10.30 a.m. | Morning Worship |
| 12th March
Ley Group event |
St Laurence | 7.30 p.m. | Licensing of Rev.
Steve Medley |
| 16th March
Lent 2 |
St John’s | 10.30 a.m. | Morning Worship
|
| 23rd March
Lent 3 |
St Laurence’s | 10.30 a.m.
|
Holy Communion |
| 30th March
Mothering Sunday |
St John’s | 10.30 a.m. | Songs of Praise |
From the Registers
Wedding
The wedding of Chloe Betteridge and Lee Hume took place on Saturday 28th December at St Laurence church. We wish Chloe and Lee every
happiness, now and in the future.
This notice should have been in February’s magazine. The editor would like to apologise for the error.
Lent
The Ash Wednesday service to mark the beginning of Lent will be at St Wilfrid’s, Old Arley on 5th March at 7.30 p. m.
Ley Group Lent Meetings
Each church in the Ley Group will host a meeting during Lent. The theme is ‘Living in Hope.’ Materials from the Church of England with this title will be used. The first meeting will be held on Thursday 13th March with the venue to be confirmed. Please use the church website or ask for details to check each week’s venue.
Lent Collection
For many years for the Lent collection at St Laurence, we have supported Water Aid.
This is a charity that helps to bring clean water to the millions of people around the world who do not enjoy the necessity for a healthy life of access to clean water.
Since Covid and the changes in our service pattern as well as the way people now make their donations to the church, the Lent collection has not raised as much as would have been expected.
Many today send their weekly or monthly collection by different ways, including the Parish Giving Scheme, monthly standing orders or BACs, all of which are very helpful to the church. This does mean that people may not have any cash with them to put on a plate.
This year it has been agreed that we will distribute envelopes for this collection as a reminder to put some cash in them and return them during one of the services in Lent.
Remember: Clean water is a necessity for a healthy life.
World Day of Prayer
This year’s service has been prepared by the church in the Cook Islands. We will meet at St John’s at 10.30 a.m. on Friday 7th March. Brenda will lead the service and tea or coffee and cake will be served afterwards. We will learn a little about the culture and customs of the islands and the concerns of the people through individual voices.
Licensing of the Reverend Steve Medley as Priest-in-Charge of the Ley Group Parishes
St Laurence Church, Ansley, will be the venue for this special event. Steve will be officially licensed on Wednesday 12th March at 7.30 p.m. Often a new priest is a stranger to most of his/her new parishioners, so it feels extra special that we are welcoming a person we know into this permanent post. We can show our support for Steve as he commits himself to minister to the people of Ansley, Arley, Fillongley and Corley. Light refreshments will be served afterwards.
Volunteers to provide and/or help serve refreshments on the night will be much appreciated.
Mothering Sunday
This year the Mothering Sunday service will be at St John’s on 30th March. This is the fifth Sunday of the month, so will follow the pattern of being a Songs of Praise service. Posies of flowers will be distributed to the congregation to remember mothers and as a sign of each person’s inclusion in the church family.
Exploring Christianity
The sessions continue on Fridays at 2.00 p.m.
in St John’s Hall for three weeks in March. Each week has its own theme, so it doesn’t matter if you haven’t been to earlier meetings.
Prayer Meeting at St John’s
The next meeting will be Tuesday 25th March at 2.00 p.m.
From the PCC
New Electoral Roll
2025 requires the preparation of a new roll, which means the completion of forms by everyone who wishes to be on it who is not disqualified. So if your name was on a previous roll you do have to complete a form to be on the new roll. This happens every six years and is a way of ensuring that data does not become out of date. The number on roll does not have a direct financial benefit to the church but gives an idea of changes and trends. You do have to be on the roll to be able to vote at the APCM, to become a member of the PCC or to be a representative at Deanery Synod. A list of what would disqualify someone from being added to the electoral roll, or becoming a PCC member is clearly stated on the application or nomination forms. Please return your form by 16th March. The new list will be prepared for 23rd March when it will be possible to check it for errors. Names can be added at any time of the year.
Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM)
PCC members will have a short meeting at 2.00 p.m. in the Annexe on Thursday 10th April to approve the accounts, then move into the Vestry meeting at 2.15., which is open to any resident of the parish.
The APCM continues with reports being presented on the new electoral roll, an overview of the year, finances, the church fabric and the proceedings of the Deanery Synod. This part of the meeting can be open to all but only Electoral Roll members can vote.
After the APCM business is concluded there will be a short meeting of the PCC only who will elect officers for the year and consider any urgent matters.
A search for APCM or Preparation of New Electoral Roll on the Church of England website will bring up procedures and examples of forms.
Advance Notice of Holy Week and Easter Services
We will meet in the Annexe at St Laurence on Palm Sunday at 10.30 a.m. to begin the service. We will then move to the church to continue a reading of The Passion by individuals and the congregation.
There will be a service of Holy Communion on Maundy Thursday at St John’s at 3.00 p.m.
On Good Friday St Laurence church will be open for informal reflection or prayer from 2.00 p.m. to 4.00 p.m.
Volunteers to help on Easter Saturday with decorating the church would be much appreciated.
There will be a service of Holy Communion in St Laurence Church on Easter Day at 10.30 a.m.
You are very welcome to attend some or all of these services.
History of Ansley St Laurence Flower Festival
(Continued from February 2025 magazine.)
The Voice of Flowers – Part Three
The titles were written and it was made sure that those who viewed the arrangements would understand.
When the last of the rubbish had been cleared away and the carpets put down, a voice said, “I don’t care if we don’t make a penny. I think it’s lovely.” Two of the ‘Hard Nuts’ even said, “Well done.”
We made more than a penny. We did very well financially.
The greatest success of the venture was the way in which so many folk had worked happily together for the whole week and the joy it had brought to the whole parish.
The sun shone. The frost had all vanished!
Although each year i Have chosen the theme and decided at which position each subject was to be displayed, a suggestion could be given, but each person was free to follow their own inspiration to interpret the text. There are two reasons for this. Firstly, it is not always possible to draw a picture of someone else’s dream. Secondly, this freedom of interpretation ensured and created sufficient variety to hold the viewer’s interest. The result was a comment from the ‘hard nuts’.
“We didn’t think there was such artistry in Ansley.”
And, truth to be told, we had not realised this ourselves.
So, joyfully surprised – it was High Summer!
Each year since, during the festivals, over 100 people of all ages lovingly play a necessary part to bring the whole event to completion. We know it is God’s guidance and loving care that bring the festivals to fruition. Can we not look for and encourage all good talents in ourselves and others and so make this world a happier place?
I was gratified over the years to know that the cherished and not so cherished blossoms that have transformed our church at the flower festivals have, because of their positions, brought more than beauty to the eyes of the beholders. Energy, happy fellowship and sharing have made our festivals far more than a financial success. People came to see beauty – they were not disappointed! However the message that the flowers portrayed also stirred their minds. The greatest benefit has been to the people themselves, both those involved in the creation of the festivals as well as visitors participating in their enjoyment. May the flowers of Christian fellowship continue to grow and blossom in this parish of Ansley.”
(Written recently)
Five generations of Gran’s family have been involved over the years and we can still say that God has guided and provided every year.
From now on we pray that God will guide the people of Ansley to do this in another format.